Bible Verse: Matthew 22:34-40
Full Sermon Transcript
WELCOME
Pastor Chris Paavola:
Well, good morning. Let’s see if I can stall long enough for you guys to hear a word I’m saying. Yeah, my name is Chris Paval. I’m the senior pastor here at St. Mark. Very exciting. Just an exciting day. These are the moments that we live for. This is why we do what we do. This is when our mission is just lived out and fully demonstrated. And so we’re very excited about this day and the baptism of five incredible people today. Wow. Wow. Praise God. We are wrapping up also today then a series called Hope during the Election where we are talking about just that. And if you weren’t here last week and you hear that, oh my goodness, they’re talking about the election in church, I am out of here. Let me put you at ease real quick. I made this promise last week and I make this promise today, this week as well, that I am not going to say any of the following words that you see on the screen.
Kamala Harris Donald Trump The Border Immigration
Transgenderism Pro-Life Pro-Choice Economy
Medicare Republican Democrat Ukraine
Crime Gun Control
I will not say them. So if you’re listening to this message later on, you’re just going to have to tune into the live stream or something like that because I’m not saying those words at all. They’re not going to come out of my mouth at all. We’re not talking about those words at all, but we are talking specifically about finding hope in the election during the election. And last week we talked about this and just anecdotally hearing back from you guys, I think the message and just the concept, bless you because you know the issues and the candidates, what we want to talk about is what we tend to forget in the heat of an election season. And so my goal was to have messages that you could listen to 20 years, 50 years, a hundred years from now, and it would still be just as relevant and applicable.
And so that’s what we’re talking about today specifically. But now last week to bring you up to speed, we talked about how the people of God, we are a part of what we call a kingdom. First and foremost, we have a king. It’s not a democracy that we’re a part of. We have a king. We are in his kingdom. And that takes supremacy first and foremost over all things. And so that means our hope is not in a Caesar and our home is not in a place like Babylon that our hope during the election is in his kingdom. And we talked about that last week. This week we’re going to build on that and talk about some other, one other concept that we just didn’t have time to get into because it’s meaty, but it’s just as important and just as relevant to the election and it puts politics in perspective for sure.
GUESSING GAME
Lemme see if you can guess what it is we’re going to talk about today. It is, go ahead. Mentioned 318 times in 23 of the 27 books of the New Testament. Jesus talked about it 50 times and it is also in one out of 25 verses in the New Testament. This topic, is that frequent in the New Testament. Any guesses as to what it might be? Go ahead Just guess love, not hope. No, it’s not love. Love is probably up there too. Yeah, I’m sure. But that’s not the topic. Yes. Not giving. He does talk about money a lot, but nope. It is the end times
END TIMES
Now, most of you, the reason there was a groan in the room is you don’t think of the end times with just like a nice word. When you think of the end times, you think of it like looking like that the end times the apocalypse, Armageddon, the judgment day, the last day. It is a topic that they go on and they talk about again and again and again in the New Testament, but it’s not this terrifying thing for them. It is actually something that gives them incredible hope. Just a few verses that we have an example of it is they call it a blessed hope. They call it a glorious appearing. They rejoice in that day. It gives them joy. They look forward to that day and they speak to one another about the last day to encourage one another, which is the complete antithesis of us. They look at the end of the world as we know it and feel fine.
We look at it and we’re like, I’m not so fine that this is terrifying. You got to be kidding me. And so it begs the question, why is the end times in the last day, judgment day, Armageddon, why is the end times such a source of hope for the first century followers of Jesus? And for us it’s a source of anxiety. How are they so hopeful? And we’re so fearful? And so what we’re going to do today is talk about exactly why and when we do, it puts politics in perspective, my friends, and it gives us hope during the election, I promise you. So we got to get there first. So let’s take this topic off of the back room, back shelf, blow off the dust and revisit something that we don’t like visiting.
WHAT AND WHEN
Okay, this topic of the end times. And most people when they’re talking about the end times and they’re thinking about it, it’s one of two questions when I get asked about it, it’s what will happen and when will it happen?
END OF TIMES
WHAT WILL HAPPEN?
WHEN WILL IT HAPPEN?
What’s it look like? Pastor, I read some fiction books called Left behinds and I have no idea what to do with this. And is that really what it’s like and what is it going to look like? And then the question, well, when will it happen? Is it like any day now? And actually those are the two questions that the inner circle disciples asked Jesus one time, same two questions. So it was a burning question in their hearts and minds too. But somehow the answer gave them hope.
3 As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately. “Tell us,” they said, “when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?” Matthew 24
So, one day they’re with Jesus and this place called Mount of Olives, and the disciples come up to him kind of on the side privately like hey Jesus. Can you tell us, I know you’re not telling the crowd. Can you tell us when will this thing happen and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?
When will it happen and what will it be like? And Jesus starts by talking about the what? Well, I’ll tell you what it will be like.
7 Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. 8 All these are the beginning of birth pains. Matthew 24
And he goes on in verse seven, “nation will rise against nation, kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. 8 And all of these are the beginning of birth pains.” And we just heard in our reading from Caitlin what this looks like as well. It’s just these are the things that will accompany it. These are the signs elsewhere. He talks about, you see trees budding and summer is coming or you see leaves turning red, orange, and yellow and winter is about to come. These will be the signs that I’m about to return wars, famine and earthquake right here is what he says. Now let me ask you, I mean that sounds terrifying already. We’re imagining plagues of biblical proportions and fire and brim storm and all that kind of stuff, but are there wars, plagues and famines right now?
Yep. Were there wars, plagues and famines in 1924? Yep. Were there wars, plagues and famines in 10 24? Yes. One of the points Jesus is trying to make is things are not as they’re supposed to be. This is not okay. Right? You look around and the world is not as it should be, right? And that’s the point he’s making. The world is broken, it’s corrupt. Or they use this word cursed by sin. This is not as God designed it. It’s tarnished. And these things are evidence that things are not as they should be. And so if you look around at your relationships or your bank account or the election or the wars and the headline news or whatever it might be, and you’re like, this is not okay, you’re right and you should be looking for his return because if things were okay, he wouldn’t need to come and establish a new heaven and a new earth.
That’s the point he’s making. And then he addresses the WHEN question.
36 “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.” Matthew 24
Take a look at this. He says, “no one knows the day or hour, not even the angels in heaven nor the son,” he’s referring to himself. I don’t even know guys. “But only the father knows.” Only the father knows when he’s going to send me to return. I don’t even know when it is. When he tells me to go, I’ll go and they’re like, okay, well hold on. You can’t tell us what will happen beyond just these general things and you can’t tell us when it’ll happen. What are we supposed to do? Jesus, what’s our job?
42 “Therefore, keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. Matthew 24
And then he answers that in verse 46, 42. But say it:
Response: Keep watch.
Pastor Chris Paavola:
Keep watch because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. Keep watch, keep looking. It’s a hard word to translate. It’s keep watch, be on guard, be on the lookout.
And actually Jesus teaches on this over and over in parable after parable and teaching after teaching is this same thing. Lookouts red alerts, heads up, incoming coming through, be on guard. And then the rest of the writers of the New Testament, Paul, Peter, James, John, they absolutely pick up on this theme over and over and over. Take a look.
6 … be awake and sober–minded. 1 Thessalonians 5
First Thessalonians five verse six, “be awake and sober minded.”
15 “Look, I come like a thief! Blessed is the one who stays awake… Revelation 16
Revelation 16 15,”look, I come like a thief. Blessed is the one who stays awake.”
11 The hour has already come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. Romans 13
Romans 13, 11, “The hour has already come for you to wake up from your slumber because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed.”
7 The end of all things is near. Therefore be alert and of sober mind so that you may pray. 1 Peter 4
or first Peter, four, seven, “The end of all things is near. Therefore, be alert of sober minds” again and again.
They’re telling us, look out, be focused. I thought of an illustration to kind of describe what they’re trying to get at. And I hesitate to tell you because when I tell you this story, you’re going to think less of me and you will absolutely think less of me, but it’s too perfect. It is just too on the nose. I’m like, okay, Lord, this is swallow my pride. So just heads up, and I’ve changed, just as a disclaimer, I’ve changed, but when I’m like early twenties, I’m young and dumb, right? And Ashley and I were engaged and we were enrolled in a premarital counseling class at this church we were at. It was a larger church. And so there was probably, I don’t know, a dozen couples in this class, okay? Says us and a dozen people or a dozen couples and all happily young puppy love you can see it in your head. And the night before, I’m pretty sure of this, the night before they gave us homework, I remember doing this packet at dinner.
Those details are fuzzy. But Ashley and I went to dinner and we were there and we were working, went out to eat and they’re at the table, we’re working on this packet. And then she went home to her parents’ house. And I forgot that my in-laws were going to be in church today. So this is a little weird too, telling the story. Anyway, but she went home to her parents’ house. I went back to my apartment and I don’t know if you guys know this about me, but I’m like an artist at heart. I’m a very creative type personality and I had to learn how to function in society. I was just so artsy blown by the wind, whoever the mood of the day takes me. But I say that I was a songwriter at the time. That’s something I did for income. And I was actually a staff writer for a publishing company, a record company.
And so I would write songs and then sell ’em to different artists. And so when inspiration strikes, it strikes you don’t have any control. And I’m driving home and I have this idea for a song. So I run inside my apartment and I sit down on the living room floor with my guitar and a journal and I start writing the song and I am swept up and I am just loving it and I’m jamming out. And if you’ve ever hung out with artists, we can get really manic episodes. And I open my eyes and I realize it’s three 30 in the morning. The class starts at eight 30 in the morning and I’m doing the quick math. I’m like, okay, I can get a good four hours if I really a good four hours of sleep. And you start doing the backwards math, right? Okay, wake up up at eight and then I could.
So I would go over to my stereo and I turn on you remember when we used to use stereos instead of phones to wake up and I turned on the stereos back to the future level volume. You remember when he would wake up? So I turned the stereo way up and I set the alarm and I fell asleep, and I woke up to the sound of music and it was playing like, oh my goodness. I mean, blaring loud, but it was like, this has been going on for a while. You ever have a dream where the music accompanies your dream? You know what I’m talking about? But it’s not just the sound of music. I also heard at my front door and I’m like, delirium, what is going on? I run to the front door and I open the door and I kid you not, they’re in front of me is the church secretary, and I’m trying to put it together.
I’m in delirium, right? Music’s blaring. And she’s kind of doing this. It’s so loud. And she’s like, we were worried about you. And I’m like, what do you mean? She’s, we’ve been texting, we’ve been calling, you haven’t been answering. And class started 20 minutes ago. So I drove here to make sure you were okay. And I’m like, oh my goodness, I’ll be right there. So I shut the door, I run in. I didn’t even change the clothes I slept in, threw on a hat, didn’t brush my teeth, just put gum in my mouth and drive like a maniac to church. I get to the church and I open the doors of where they’re having this class. I open the doors and 24 heads turn around and look at me with the most judgmental look. Actually, it looks a lot like you’re looking at me right now.
The same exact, don’t judge, I’ve changed. Okay? So anyway, they’re all looking at me judging me, and I look over at Ashley and she doesn’t turn around. She’s sitting there all by herself. Put yourself in her shoes for like 30 minutes and then before the class starts, everyone is happily like rubbing each other’s back in love with their couple and holding hands. And she’s sitting there by herself. Where’s your fiance? I don’t know. I called him. He hasn’t shown up. And I kid you not the pastor told her, I hate to break it to you, but I think this is a red flag.
Honest to goodness what he said to her. And she is dying a slow death. Nothing is worse than embarrassing. Ashley is the thing you don’t do. And she’s dying a slow death. Just answering the questions. Where’s your fiancée? Is he not coming or is it just you? Oh, I’m sorry. All of that kind of judgment. And so she sits down, but she doesn’t turn her head. And I kind of sheepishly walk up and I sit down next to her and she does one of these looks and it’s a smile that says, I love you, but we are going to talk about this. Thankfully, she still said yes, and we still got married. And that was 19 years ago. We’re going on 20 years this year. So I think I’ve made recompense, but the reason I overslept, and the reason I missed it is not because I enjoyed music, it’s because I got distracted.
I lost focus of the most important thing. The most important thing was this premarital class at eight 30. That’s what was important. And I lost focus. I got distracted. And that’s what the scripture is trying to tell us to do. Be focused. Stay awake. Don’t get distracted. I know there’s a whole lot of upheaval out there in the world. I know you’ve got a lot of anxieties. Stay focused. He’s coming back. And here I can demonstrate what this focus, I mean, okay, demonstrate what this is like. Okay? What focus does, just look around and notice everything in the room that is red, okay? Find as many red things as you can. Okay? Now close your eyes. Close your eyes.
What was green? Open your eyes. There’s green around you. Why didn’t you see green? What’s that? I didn’t ask you to because you were looking for what? Red, red, red. And the world is not asking you to fix your eyes on Jesus. The world is asking you to pay attention to this. This is the most important thing. And you were distracted. That’s what focus is as you black out everything else and you focus on that thing that is most important.
A QUESTION FOR TODAY
And so really for us, it’s a question of focus. And now we think like of the first century church, they were intensely focused laser being focused on Christ’s return. And no matter what happened in their world, they were focused on that thing and it brought them incredible joy in spite of horrific circumstances. Remember, they’re being persecuted. Hunted.
WHAT WOULD YOU DO TODAY IF YOU KNEW JESUS WAS COMING TOMORROW?
Life is really hard. There’s wars, famines, earthquakes, but their joy is untouched because they’re focused. And we can have that same level of focus. Actually right now. You could do it right now. So here’s how you get the focus of the first century church. Ready? You answered this question, what would you do today if you knew in your heart of hearts that Jesus was coming tomorrow? Okay, if you knew God gave you a dream, and he says, tomorrow I will send my son. Okay, what would you do today if you knew tomorrow Jesus would come.
It’s a piercing question. So here I actually want you to talk about this. So take a few minutes, turn to the person next to you and try to answer that question. Okay? Ready? Go. It’s an interesting question, isn’t it? Because in the groups I was talking to over here, it was instant. I’d tell everyone I could, especially the people I’m worried about. I would tell them it would just be the utmost of importance. I also heard reconciling anyone reconcile with, okay, I see a couple head nods. I would reconcile with those who have got grievances. I don’t want to stand in front of God harboring anger in my heart towards someone. No way.
There’s also, I think if you’re somebody, if you’re just struggling with some kind of addiction or habitual sin, that would not even be a question anymore. You’d want to be right? You’d be confessing sins and just making sure that you’re ready to see him. I just think these things would be like how we would respond, right? It’s a piercing question, provides absolute focus on what’s most important. And that’s what they’re getting at when they say be on guard, stay awake, look out, be watchful. I bet you nobody in here mentioned anything about their 401k. I bet you nobody in here mentioned their kitchen floors or the kitchen cupboards that they hate.
I hope nobody mentioned football. And I bet none of you mentioned the election, right? It suddenly becomes overwhelmingly overshadowed by what’s most important. And that’s why it brings so much hope to the early church and why it brings and offers so much hope to us today. Because honestly put in perspective, you can be involved, you can be interested, but Caesar is not your hope. Babylon is not your home and your king is on his way. And it just is amazing what that does to all of this frenzy that we feel right now in a season like this.
HIS SLOWNESS IS HIS MERCY
And then, okay, so I know the other thing, question in the room, it’s hanging in there. I can feel it hanging in the air is like, well, okay, they thought he was coming at any moment and that changed the way they lived. And that’s probably part of the explanation why the church exploded like it did. The early church, sure, they were convinced it was going to happen any day, but we’re sitting here 21 centuries later and there’s 21 centuries of people who were wrong that they thought it was coming any day. Now it hasn’t come for 2000 years, Chris, and you’d be right, but there is a scripture. And any times, anytime we talk about the end times, we have to absolutely talk about this concept. It comes up again and again and there’s a really important teaching from a book called Second Peter three. And I’m going to read it to you guys just like story time with Chris.
Usually I interrupt and I talk through it, but I think it just speaks for itself. It’s very straightforward, clear language, and I want to just read these words. And my hope for you is they speak to you the way they spoke to me. Like they just have a way of speaking to the heart. And I pray that the same is true and that the word of God is living and active this morning as I read it to you.
3 Above all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. 4 They will say, “Where is this ‘coming’ he promised? Ever since our ancestors died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation.” 2 Peter 3
This is from two Peter three verse three. “Above all, you must understand that in the last days, scoffers will come scoffing and following their own evil desires 4 they will say, where is this coming He promised? Ever since our forefathers, everything goes on the same as it has since the beginning of creation.” But they deliberately forget that long ago, God’s word caused the heavens to exist.
And by God’s word it will end.
8 But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. 9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.
10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare.
11 Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives 12 as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. 13 But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells.
14 So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him. 15 Bear in mind that our Lord’s patience means salvation… 2 Peter 3
And then in verse eight, “ But do not forget this one thing. Dear friends with the Lord, a day is like a thousand years and a thousand years is like a day. And the Lord is not slow in keeping his promise as some understand slowness. Rather, he’s patient with us not wanting anyone to perish. He wants everyone to come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar. The elements will be destroyed by fire and the earth and everything when it will be laid bare. And since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people should you be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God. And speed it’s coming that day will bring about destruction of the heavens by fire and the elements will melt in the heat. But in keeping with his promise, we look forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness. So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found blameless, spotless, and at peace with him. And remember, our lord’s patience means your salvation.”
This is the word of the Lord. It’s powerful. It’s powerful, powerful teaching. I hope you heard it. He doesn’t want anyone to perish, so he is waiting as long as possible. His waiting is his mercy for you. Wow. And you are included in the number because he has waited. Thanks be to God. And then if you think about your loved ones who have yet to know the hope of Jesus, who have yet to believe in their heart and confess with the lips that Jesus Christ says Lord, who have yet to be baptized in the waters of baptism and receive the promises of God, there is still time to invite them.
I say it all the time, hoping it gets through to someone you know are the closest they will ever come to experiencing Jesus. Invite them. And then this makes me think also of people in the room and maybe have never confessed that Jesus Christ is the son of God. He was born, lived a perfect life, died a perfect death, rose from the grave as ascended into heaven. And it’s coming again soon and very soon we are going to see the king. And I do know this. I don’t know when he comes, but I know he’s closer to coming today than he was yesterday. And there is still time. And I’m pleading with you to be reconciled to God please.
So that day does not need to be a fearful day, a dreadful day, but it can be a day of hope when our king who came as a baby comes again as a warrior. When our king who came and was despised and rejected by man will come again and be exalted. And every knee will bow and every tongue confess that he is Lord. When our king who went to a cross of shame will be exalted and riding on the clouds that day can be a day of great joy and encouragement for you. And you can have hope today during the election, during war and famine and earthquakes, during financial crisis, during broken relationships.
You can have hope because your king is coming. And in just a moment, we’re going to sing a song called How Great Thou Art. And it says, when Christ shall come with shouts of acclimation, what joy shall fill my heart and then I will bow in humble adoration and there proclaim my God, how great thou art. And I want you to sing that with a heart of faith.
PRAYER
Lemme pray for you, heavenly Father. First of all, we confess that we have made other things to importance. We’ve let the world tell us what to focus on, and we have been distracted and we are sorry. We’ve been weighed down with the anxieties of life and we have forgotten and pushed aside the thought of your coming.
We’ve even grown weary and tired. We confess it God, because the day is long and the hour is late. And teach us again to wake up, be alert, be on guard that we may focus as your people. I pray for anyone that we know God, who has yet to know, give us the words to invite the words to say, prepare their heart to receive it, that we may celebrate even more baptisms in this place. And I pray for anyone in here who has yet to confess you as Lord, the Son of God, crucified, risen, ascended, and returning that you would just hear the confession of their heart right now in this moment. Yes, I believe that they may sing with joy at your returning and we pray now the prayer your Son taught us to pray, asking you to come, Lord Jesus, saying together, our Father who arts in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come and thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever. Amen and amen.
